MEM23941 - Post-Medieval Prospecting Cut on the Eastern Side of Burcombe (Monument)

A water and vegetation filled linear cut 15m long and generally about 1m wide, aligned north-south was noted by Cornwall Council during a walkover survey of Burcombe and Wester Emmetts. A spoil bank on the eastern downslope side is approximately 2.5m wide and 0.4m high. This is probably a post-medieval prospecting trench associated with the nearby Blue Gate Mine, active between c. 1835 and WW1 (MSO602). [1] A linear prospecting cut and spoilbank, situated south of another larger prospecting cut (MEM23940) was noted during a follow-up walkover survey. This may relate to mining of Iron Ore recorded on Burcombe, but there is a degree of uncertainty of this by the Mires Officer. [2]